Thousand-Year Sword God of the Old Land

The night was deep, dark clouds like thick ink, smearing across the sky, obscuring most of the moonlight. In the overlapping light and shadow, wisps of light broke through, illuminating the path home for the common folk.

Li Qingshan descended like a streak of sword energy, his body light, his aura flowing, becoming increasingly profound. It was evident that after practicing the Grass and Wood Sword Technique, his cultivation had improved significantly.

"Senior Brother, how has your cultivation improved so quickly?" Upon landing, Li Qingshan's first sight was of Li Jiusheng, and he was greatly astonished, finding it unbelievable. Last time he visited, his Senior Brother was merely at Withered Wood Meets Spring, still in the Houtian Realm. Now, he had already built the Xiantian Bridge and condensed a Golden Core.

"I've lived a Second Life, so naturally, it has to be different from my previous one," Li Jiusheng said nonchalantly, offering no explanation.

Li Qingshan didn't press further. Everyone had their own secrets. Ever since his Senior Brother taught him the Grass and Wood Sword Technique, he had felt that this ordinary Senior Brother was different. At the time, he had even used great means to carefully examine his Senior Brother from head to toe, not even sparing his soul. Only when he found no issues did he feel at ease.

After all, books were filled with tales of Body Seizing Rebirth, or awakening Past Life Wisdom, or being reborn from decay. But in these new lives, the reborn souls no longer possessed their past personalities, equivalent to killing their former selves. This was something Li Qingshan could not accept.

Fortunately, the Senior Brother before him, who had lived a Second Life, was still the same Senior Brother who had doted on him as a child and treated him as family. Since that was the case, there was no need to ask further. He only needed to be happy for his Senior Brother.

"You busy bee, what brings you here tonight?" Li Jiusheng looked at Li Qingshan and asked with a smile.

Li Qingshan replied, "I haven't seen Senior Brother in a long time and missed him, so I came over."

"It's not just missing him, is it? You have something on your mind." Li Jiusheng looked at Li Qingshan seriously and saw through him in an instant.

Li Qingshan raised an eyebrow. "Am I that obvious?"

"Not at all. Outsiders wouldn't be able to see it. But I know you. Ever since you were young, you've been like this, keeping your worries to yourself, wanting to solve them alone. When you have nothing on your mind, you're very relaxed, joking and laughing, never serious. But once you have something weighing on you, you become increasingly calm, like a deep, still pond, impossible to fathom." Li Jiusheng pointed out Li Qingshan's personality trait.

Li Qingshan chuckled heartily. "Senior Brother knows me best. No one else has noticed that I have something on my mind. They all think that after killing Zhang Wudao and inheriting the position of Sect Master of Shangqing Palace, I should be at the peak of my life, filled with joy."

Li Jiusheng said nothing and led Li Qingshan back to the Scripture Repository Pavilion.

In the tea room, wisps of steam rose, boiling the tea. Li Jiusheng poured a cup for Li Qingshan. The two brothers sat by the window, looking out at the mountains and rivers beyond. Neither spoke, taking a few sips of tea first.

"Is it because of Emperor Wu of Zhou?" Li Jiusheng suddenly asked.

Li Qingshan's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Senior Brother, how did you know?"

Li Jiusheng took a sip of tea, contemplating. "Everyone thinks you should be basking in glory right now, but you're hiding your worries. Something that can trouble you and furrow your brow must be extraordinary. After much thought, it can only be Zhang Wudao's master, that Emperor Wu of Zhou who has been overbearing for centuries and has countless grudges with our Shangqing Palace."

Li Qingshan nodded, impressed. "Senior Brother is indeed Senior Brother. You're right, I am troubled by Emperor Wu of Zhou."

Li Jiusheng frowned. "Some time has passed since Zhang Wudao's death. The Supreme Dao has shown no reaction. Everyone says Emperor Wu of Zhou is in seclusion due to that sword strike from Li Tianxian and cannot attend to other matters. Why are you worried?"

Li Qingshan shook his head and explained, "What the world says is just hearsay and rumors. The Supreme Dao has had no reaction to Zhang Wudao's death, but the quieter they are, the more terrifying it is."

Li Jiusheng pondered. "Are you afraid the Supreme Dao is brewing something, and Emperor Wu of Zhou will emerge at any moment to attack?"

Li Qingshan put down his teacup. "Senior Brother, everyone says Emperor Wu of Zhou has been in seclusion for a hundred years because of that final sword strike from Li Tianxian. Do you believe that too?"

Li Jiusheng frowned. "Isn't that the case?"

He had used his comprehension to perceive the scene of Li Tianxian's final moments, where he had severed Emperor Wu of Zhou's ancestral foundation with a single sword strike. How could it be false?

Li Qingshan shook his head and said, "Li Tianxian is a peerless sword immortal, her talent is unmatched. I absolutely believe she could injure Emperor Wu of Zhou before her death, but to say that Li Tianxian's single sword strike forced an Ancestor to go into seclusion for hundreds of years, and to this day, he dares not come out, is absolutely impossible."

Li Jiusheng pondered, and upon careful thought, it seemed to make sense.

Li Tianxian was a peerless sword immortal. Before becoming an Ancestor, she had comprehended the Ancestor-level Grass and Wood Sword Technique, which was legendary.

But this didn't mean Emperor Wu of Zhou was weak. He also possessed top-tier talent and an invincible demeanor, sweeping aside cultivators of his generation and achieving the Ancestor Realm, becoming invincible in his era.

In terms of achievements, Li Tianxian was hailed as an Ancestor Seedling, but Emperor Wu of Zhou had truly become an Ancestor. To be injured by Li Tianxian was already a remarkable achievement. For her to have injured Emperor Wu of Zhou so severely that he went into seclusion for a hundred years and dared not come out, that was an exaggeration.

"Then why hasn't Emperor Wu of Zhou come out of seclusion? With his tyrannical and overbearing personality, if his most favored disciple was killed, he couldn't possibly remain indifferent," Li Jiusheng asked.

Li Qingshan's expression turned grave, and he whispered, "This is also what worries me. I've been searching for information and clues regarding this matter during this period, and I actually discovered the truth behind Emperor Wu of Zhou's seclusion."

Li Jiusheng immediately poured tea for Li Qingshan, eager to listen.

"Emperor Wu of Zhou emerged four hundred years ago and was active in the cultivation world. He acted without restraint, sweeping aside all opponents and remaining invincible. This forged his invincible Aura/Momentum. Ultimately, he defeated the younger generation of the Old Land and earned the title of Four Emperors," Li Qingshan recounted.

"Four Emperors?" Li Jiusheng raised an eyebrow. Such a peerless expert as Emperor Wu of Zhou actually had four?

"Yes, Four Emperors, referring to the four peerless experts among the younger generation in the cultivation world, who even surpassed the older generation and were hailed as the Four Ancestor Seedlings," Li Qingshan said.

"Would Emperor Wu of Zhou agree to that?" Li Jiusheng doubted. With Emperor Wu of Zhou's extremely domineering personality, would he willingly share fame with four others? Wouldn't he have beaten the other three to death and stood alone in glory?

"Naturally, he disagreed. Among the Four Emperors were Emperor Wu of Zhou, the Thousand-Year Sword God of the Old Land, the Buddhist Rulai, and the Daoist Ancestor."

"Each of them was a Prodigy who suppressed an era. Emperor Wu of Zhou fought fiercely with the Buddhist Rulai and battled with the Daoist Ancestor, but ultimately could not defeat them. He had no choice but to acknowledge the reputation of the Four Emperors," Li Qingshan said.

"That's not right. There's also the Thousand-Year Sword God of the Old Land. Didn't he fight?" Li Jiusheng asked curiously.

"Emperor Wu of Zhou was arrogant and overbearing his entire life, with very few friends. The only one he acknowledged was the Thousand-Year Sword God of the Old Land," Li Qingshan explained.

Li Jiusheng was surprised. He had thought Emperor Wu of Zhou was a loner, but he didn't expect him to have a friend.

"Then where is this Thousand-Year Sword God of the Old Land now?" Li Jiusheng asked.

"He's dead, killed by Emperor Wu of Zhou," Li Qingshan shook his head, with a hint of regret.

"Ah..." Li Jiusheng looked at Li Qingshan in astonishment.